Argentina’s President Criticizes UN as “Useless”
During his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, President Javier Milei of Argentina harshly criticized the UN, calling it a “useless” entity that caters to a group of “fatally arrogant parasites.” This was Milei’s third address to the assembly since taking office in 2023 and his third condemnation of the organization, following similar remarks in previous years.
Milei’s critique was categorized into three main themes: what the UN should have done but failed to, what it shouldn’t have done but did, and comments regarding the UN’s approach to artificial intelligence. He also took a firm stance against Iran, condemning its attacks on Israel and reiterating Argentina’s quest for justice over terrorist attacks linked to Iran and its proxy, Hezbollah, that occurred in the 1990s.
He elaborated on the first category by pointing out that the UN was founded on principles stating that all humans are born free and equal, with inherent rights and dignity. “These are noble words, words I staunchly agree with,” he remarked. However, he emphasized, “It’s time to admit that this sacred covenant has been broken,” leading to the UN’s transformation into an ineffective body that nourishes a “caste of fatally arrogant parasites in the guise of well-meaning bureaucrats.”
Milei stated, “Those responsible for ensuring collective security and human rights have failed, allowing chaos, violence, and international terrorism to thrive.” He criticized what he saw as hypocrisy, stating that the supposed defenders of human rights often back brutal dictatorships and regimes that perpetrate violence against women.
He pointed out how the organization has systematically voted against Israel while remaining silent on Islamic terrorism and the genocide of Christians in Africa. “They systematically voted against Israel, while remaining silent in the face of Islamic terrorism and the genocide of Christians in Africa,” he added.
Milei went on to critique the UN’s neglect of Argentina’s long-standing territorial dispute with the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands, which has recently been reinvigorated due to a proposed Israeli-U.K. oil venture in the region. He described the “Malvinas cause” as not merely a national concern but also a demonstration of the stark contrast between the UN’s declarations and the realities it claims to address.
The president referenced a 50-year-old UN resolution requesting both Argentina and the U.K. to refrain from unilateral actions regarding the Falklands until the dispute is resolved. Milei and his government cite this resolution as a key reason for their recent protests against the oil project being pursued in the islands.
“What good is a resolution if the other party can act contrary to it for decades while the resolution gathers dust, powerless against the situation?” he questioned, urging the U.K. to engage in talks for a “peaceful solution” regarding the Falkland Islands, which the U.K. still claims as its territory.
On the issue of what the UN shouldn’t have done, he remarked that it has fostered a “bureaucratic leviathan” that dictates how nations and citizens ought to live. This, he stated, results in a troubling “mix of anarchy and tyranny,” showcasing impotence in the face of violations by dictatorships and terrorist groups, while imposing control on democracies that respect the rules.
Milei specifically mentioned the “2030 Agenda” as one of the UN’s missteps, which encompasses topics like economic regulation, gender issues, environmental concerns, and uncontrolled migration. He also criticized the UN’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, alleging that its policies of enforced lockdowns led to job losses, interrupted education for many children, and cost lives as people suffered without medical care. He labeled these actions a “global experiment for social control disguised as science.”
Regarding artificial intelligence, Milei expressed support for a vision shared with former President Donald Trump — that the West must lead in developing these technologies. He acknowledged that AI could revolutionize various sectors, including medicine and governance, but cautioned against allowing fear to dictate responses to advancements in AI.
He concluded by inviting “free men and women of the world, the scientists, the entrepreneurs, the creators, those who dream of a fresh start,” to look to Argentina, showcasing its land, resources, and talented people. “No nation has guaranteed historical significance; it is cultivated through hard work, freedom, and a people’s determination to reject the notion that their best days are behind them,” he remarked.
In a familiar closing style, Milei finished his address with his renowned words, “May God bless all the peoples of the world. May God bless the Argentine Republic. May the forces of Heaven be with us — and long live freedom, damn it!”
